Category: wellbeing

Help Artisans Collective design a community hub – your hub in the centre of Prestatyn.

Currently we are based in a 1965 former library which closed as it was not fit for purpose as a public library anymore.

As a lot of you know over the past 3 years we have developed in to a community hub, due to demand from our users and the local community. All with limited funding and always working on a 2 month rolling lease with our County Council

We have always been community led. Now we need to prove that for the next stage of our development.

“We believe that the following three approaches are vital to help us achieve our mission and address inequality in Wales. We want all activity we fund to embrace these.
••People-led – we want the people who will benefit from, or be affected by your project to be meaningfully involved in the development, design and delivery of your activity.••Strengths-based – we want to encourage organisations to make the most of, and build on, the skills and experiences of people and strengths within communities.••Connected – we want to know that you have a good understanding of what others are doing locally, that what you’re doing complements and adds to this, and that you have working relationships with other relevant groups.”

We hope that you will help Artisans design/develop a community hub fit for the communities needs.

So to kick off here is what we think are essentials for the current building:

First and foremost new toilets including disabled and baby changing cubicles.

Fire Escape route for Upstairs

Vertical transport to allow upstairs access for less able citizens.

We have lots more plans and ideas it will be interesting to see what other community members think.

Please leave your comments below, not just about the building but for instance what other types of activities you would like to see.

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As Part of the Dementia Friendly Community initiative Prestatyn Town Council facilitate mind music events each Wednesday morning from 10:30 at Kings Hall.

Enjoying the one of the weekly events at Kings Hall Prestatyn with CynthiaEnjoying the one of the weekly events at Kings Hall Prestatyn with Ruth

Run by Sue Edwards of Prestatyn Town Council, with a number of other local community group members getting involved such as Prestatyn Men’s Shed, and Artisans Collective CIC alongside other local artists and musicians, George, Paul and Cynthia.

Whether it’s 60s soul, operatic arias or songs from the shows, music can soothe, stimulate and bring to mind long-forgotten memories.

Enjoying another one of the weekly events with Dave of Prestatyn Men’s Shed

The power of music, especially singing, to unlock memories and kickstart the grey matter is an increasingly key feature of dementia care. It seems to reach parts of the damaged brain in ways other forms of communication cannot.

Here are five reasons why researchers believe that music boosts brain activity:

1. Music evokes emotions that bring memories.

Music can evoke emotion in even the most advanced of Alzheimer’s patients. Neurologist Oliver Sacks says that, “Music evokes emotion, and emotion can bring with it memory… it brings back the feeling of life when nothing else can.” By pairing music with every day activities, patients can develop a rhythm that helps them to the recall the memory of that activity, improving cognitive ability over time.

2. Musical aptitude and appreciation are two of the last remaining abilities in dementia patients.

Linda Maguire, lead author on the study wrote, “Musical aptitude and music appreciation are two of the last remaining abilities in patients with Alzheimer’s.” Because these two abilities remain long after other abilities have passed, music is an excellent way to reach beyond the disease and reach the person.

3. Music can bring emotional and physical closeness.

In the later stages of dementia, patients often lose the ability to share emotions with caregivers. Through music, as long as they are ambulatory, they can often dance. Dancing can lead to hugs, kisses and touching which brings security and memories.

4. Singing is engaging.

The singing sessions in the study engaged more than just the brain and the area related to singing. As singing activated the left side of the brain, listening to music sparked activity in the right and watching the class activated visual areas of the brain. With so much of the brain being stimulated, the patients were exercising more mind power than usual.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America has an entire web page dedicated to music therapy in Alzheimer’s patients. They say that, “When used appropriately, music can shift mood, manage stress-induced agitation, stimulate positive interactions, facilitate cognitive function and coordinate motor movements.” This is because music requires little to no mental processing, so singing music does not require the cognitive function that is not present in most dementia patients.

Flexible Volunteering Opportunities

One Off Volunteering Opportunities

Sorry, there are no one-time volunteer opportunities available right now.

Our events are also detailed on Dewis Cymru a place for information about well-being in Wales.
They have information that can help you think about what matters to you, along with information about local organisations and services that can help!